Gaudí - Tapa dura

Reviews from A Taste of Castile (1992)

‘Gijs van Hensbergen’s A Taste of Castile is a delight. The tales of the cooking and eating are funny, affectionate and whole-hearted, interspersed not only with recipes, but with shrewd and amusing observations of Segovia and its ancient ways.’
Adam Hopkins, Guardian

‘A delightful book, absolutely genuine and often hilarious. Van Hensbergen’s misadventures in Segovia will tell you more about Spain, especially central Spain, than many a learned volume. It is high praise to say that even a Spaniard will find A Taste of Castile a delightfully entertaining read.’
Michael Smith, Irish Times

‘Excellent.’
Craig Brown, Sunday Times

The first critical biography of one of the twentieth century’s greatest architects.

At the time of his death in 1926, Antoni Gaudi was arguably the most famous architect in the world. He had created some of the greatest and most controversial masterpieces of modern architecture, that were as exotic as they were outrageous. A precurser to the other great Catalan artists Picasso, Dali and Bunuel, Gaudi created dramatically original and daring art that was to surpass and reinvent all that had gone before.

Gijs van Hensbergen’s book is a masterly biography, capturing both the power and importance of Gaudi’s work and the unique spirit of Catalan culture. In life and in death, Gaudi lived by extravagant gestures and a creativity that bordered on madness. Even his legendary death under a tram as he stepped back to admire his cathedral in Barcelona has the hint of absurdity and poetry.

Today, Gaudi has become an icon of artistic integrity and genius, for religious piety and for unstinting love for his homeland, Catalonia.